News and Notes. 519 



the University of Minnesota has been engaged by the Commission 

 as its forester. Offices have been secured in the Morris Build- 

 ing, Philadelphia, and the work will be pushed vigorously. 



The rapid westward spread of the chestnut blight in Pennsyl- 

 vania is indicated by the report to the department of forestry of 

 its existence in Adams, Centre and Snyder counties. This dis- 

 covery may cause a revision of the plans of the commission, as 

 the disease was unknown west of the Susquehanna river except 

 in York county, where the commission is now combating it. 



The National Irrigation Congress will hold its nineteenth ses- 

 sion in Chicago December 5 to 9, when it will have formally 

 brought to its attention by the Western Forestry and Conserva- 

 tion Association the need for its assistance in spreading the 

 gospel of fire prevention. On this subject E. T. Allen says: 



"One of the worthy objects of the Congress is to 'save the 

 forests,' and next to food itself, no product is so necessary to the 

 human race as wood. People must have it for fuel, for their 

 houses, barns, and fences, to build ships, railroads, and irrigation 

 flumes, and for almost every article used by civilized man. Hav- 

 ing plenty of it, we not only get all these things cheaper our- 

 selves, but can sell it to those states and countries that have no 

 forests. 



"Lumbering is an important industry in the Pacific Northwest. 

 It brings about $i25,ooo,cxx) a year, or more than $332,000 a 

 day, into the five states of California, Oregon, Washington, 

 Idaho, and Montana, and nearly all of this money is paid out for 

 labor and supplies so that every family shares it. It contributes 

 to every line of industry as well as to the farmer, the merchant, 

 the mechanic, and the professional man. No other product of 

 these states furnished employment for so many people or brings 

 in so much money. Lumber makes up 75 per cent, of all the 

 freight we ship out of these states by rail or boat. 



"Our forests are useful and necessary, as they keep the flow 

 of our streams even, preventing floods in the wet season and 

 furnishing water for irrigation and power during the dry season ; 

 they pay taxes to support our roads, our schools, and our gov- 

 ernment ; they shelter our wild game and fish, and in many other 

 ways make our country healthier and pleasanter to live in. In 



33 



